Asterdale Primary School Newsletter
Feb 6th 2015
Number 4
A huge congratulations to the staff at Asterdale who have recently been commended for their
teaching achievements over the last three years, working with all our children to encourage them to
reach their potential and the be the ‘best they can be’. We were delighted to receive a letter from the
Rt Hon David Laws (MP), the current Minister of State for Schools to congratulate the staff and pupils
on their achievements. We are one of 5 Primary Schools in Derby City to be acknowledged for this
tremendous achievement. As a result, our staff have been asked to work with other schools in a
supportive way to share good practice. Well done Asterdale!!
Mr. Evans and Mrs. Sheard recently took 2 teams of
pupils from Y5&6 to the Soccer Dome at Pride Park
where we competed in an inter-schools soccer
tournament. The standard of play was exceptionally
high and the Asterdale teams faced some tough
opposition. It was a day of mixed fortunes, with the
Asterdale squads achieving some wins, some draws and
also the odd loss or two! Many thanks to Mr. Evans and
Mrs.Sheard for accompanying the children and the
super performances from the teams.
World Book Day this year will be held on
Thursday March 5th. Our theme this year is
‘Heroes and Villains’ and we invite all children
and staff to dress as their favourite ‘hero’ or
‘villain’ from a favourite book. We hope to run
book related activities throughout the day in
school.
Dinner money is charged at £11 per
week and we appreciate payment
either by cheque or cash every
Monday morning please. Families
who wish to pay until Easter (March
27th) are welcome to do so – price will
be £63.80. If you think you may be
eligible to claim for Free School Meals,
please ask in the school office for
more information.
We appear to have a number of cases of
headlice across the school. May we ask that all
families check their children’s hair on a regular
basis for lice or eggs and follow a treatment
programme if evidence is found in hair? If you
require further information please do ask in
school.
Once again, we are collecting Sainsbury’s vouchers. There is a collection box located in the front
entrance hall to receive any vouchers collected.
1
We have a number of nursery places available for 3
and 4 year olds for September 2015. Please pass
the word around to friends and neighbours who might
have young children so that they can put their child's
name down on our waiting list. Letters offering
places to children who are currently on our waiting list
will be sent out at the beginning of March.
In addition to the 15 hours funded sessions we are
able to offer extra childcare sessions at a cost of £5
per hour between 8am and 3.15pm during term time.
Any families who need more information about our
nursery or childcare provision, please do see Mrs
Stanley.
Our school council have been busy over
the term reviewing and planning our next
projects. The School Council will be
working to support the Comic Relief
Charity – selling red noses and hopefully
holding a cake stall in order to raise funds.
The School Council will also be working
with the eco-council to hold an ‘eco
fashion show’. All the pupils in school will
be invited to design an outfit that uses
recycled or eco products. We hope to
judge the competition and then hold our
very own ‘eco fashion show’ with catwalk
presentations. More details will follow
from the school council nearer the time.
We are delighted with our uptake of school lunches here at Asterdale and are very grateful to Mrs.
Thomas and the catering team for the excellent food choices offered. We would like to continue to
invite parents to join their children for school lunch – I know that roast day on a Wednesday is a
particular favourite! If you would like to book a school lunch any time, please do see Mrs. McLocklin
in the school office, at least 2 days in advance so that Mrs. Thomas can order the food. The cost for
an adult school lunch is £3.
Additionally, Mrs. Thomas is happy to meet any dietary needs the children may have, such as for
religious, cultural or allergy needs. Parents are invited to pop in to see Mrs. Thomas in the school
kitchen to ensure we have full and accurate information or can write to her outlining the foods your
child can/cannot eat. Many thanks.
May we respectfully ask that all parents and
family members park considerately at morning
drop off and afternoon collection? I know that
sometimes parking is tricky at these incredibly
busy times, but that we have had some
complaints with regard to where cars are parked
on Borrowash Road. It is becoming increasingly
difficult for pedestrians, especially with
wheelchairs or buggies to pass when cars are
parked on the pavement or drop down kerbs or
blocking driveways. Please help us to work with
our neighbours in this residential area.
We wondered if any parents or grandparents
might be able to offer help or support to us in
school? We are particularly looking for
volunteers who might be able to listen to our
children read on a regular basis, in addition to
other projects that we have coming up. If you
are able to commit to say an hour a week or a
fortnight, to hear our children read, do please
see your child’s class teacher. We appreciate
reading help across the whole school and
volunteers are particularly welcome. Full
training will be given if required.
2
It seems a long way off, but we wanted to share information with regard to our Easter celebrations at
School. We will, like last year, be joining up with St Werburgh’s CE Primary School to share a
special Easter service at St Werburgh’s Church on Thursday 26th March. More details will follow
nearer the time of this event. Additionally the children will be invited to take part in our Easter
activities in school. Pupils in Nursery and Reception will be holding an Easter Bonnet competition on
Wednesday 25th March – bring your finest decorated hat to school and pupils from Y1-6 will be asked
to decorate an egg. The egg competition will be judged on Friday 27th March. So get busy with your
ideas!
We are very fortunate here at Asterdale to have a group of very willing volunteers who are able to
support our school PTFA (Parent, Teacher and Friends Association). As a group, the PTFA are
always on the lookout for new members, either parents or friends who are able to join in with regular
planning meetings and events, or just to assist and help at the many fundraising activities held
throughout the year.
There have been a whole host of activities and events throughout the year that help raise money for
use in school. Events such as the pumpkin competition, the Christmas Fayre, the school disco, the
summer fete to name but a few. The generous donations and money raised from these events helps
to support the school in so many ways, such as transport for annual trips and other resource items in
school. The next PTFA meeting is planned for Wednesday February 16th at 4pm in the school dining
room. All are welcome – do come along to find out what the PTFA do and how you might be able to
help. Further information is available from Clare Beheshti.
We very much appreciate all the help that parents and families do at home in supporting their child’s
learning. Hearing your children read is one of the best ways to help your children to make progress.
Just hearing a child read for 5-10 mins every day (little and often) can really boost their reading
capacity. Children are usually incredibly proud to show off their reading skills and talents and to
share these with a captive audience such as yourself is wonderful. Older children can be
encouraged to read for pleasure at home, making a note in their reading diaries of the pages they
have read etc. Parents can also sign in reading diaries when they have heard their child read as this
provides useful information for the class teacher. Sometimes children do get tried after a day at
school and it is quite ok for a parents, older sibling or other family member to read a story to the child,
sharing this special time together. If any families need any further help or guidance, please do speak
to your child’s class teacher or Mrs Sheard who is our literacy co-ordinator.
3
Congratulations to all our Y3 gymnasts who recently represented Asterdale at the Derby City
Gymnastics competition. Our grateful thanks to all the athletes and also to Miss Whatmough for
supporting the team. Competition on the day was incredibly tough and we were delighted with the
performance of
all our gymnasts in disciplines such as body management, floor routine and vault. Well done to all
and we are incredibly proud of your achievements!
Spring Term 1 (Jan-Feb 2015)
Fri 6th Feb
Mon 16th Feb
Tue 3rd Mar
Wed 4th Mar
Thur 12th Mar
Thur 12th –
Fri 20th Mar
Fri 13th Mar
Fri 20th Mar
Sun 22nd Mar
Mon 23rd Mar
Wed 25th Mar
Thur 26th Mar
Fri 27th Mar
Fri 27th Mar
Mon 13th Apr
Break up for half-term
Return to School
EY-Y6 (whole school) parents evening – 3.40-5pm
EY-Y6 (whole school) parents evening – 3.40-6pm
Y3 Dance Festival – Riverside Centre, Pride Park – 12.15-2.30pm (more details to
follow)
National Science Week
Inset Day - school closed to pupils
KS2 Music Performance – Spondon Methodist Church - 6pm (more details to
follow)
Y2 Music Performance – Riverside Centre, Pride Park (more details to follow)
Y6 Visit to Parliament, London – 7am (please note date change from Feb 23rd more details to follow)
EY Easter Bonnet competition
Easter Service – St Werburgh’s Church 2pm
Y1-Y6 Easter Egg competition – decorate an egg
Break up for Easter
Return to School
On behalf of all the pupils, staff and Governors, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very and
hopefully a relaxing and enjoyable break?
4
5